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Page last updated
Thu 17 July 2025

The Freshwater Mussels (Unionoida) of the World (and other less consequential bivalves)

FM(U)otW(aolcb) is the web version of the MUSSEL Project Database. Follow the links to browse the data or use the custom Google search field. Either way, you win!


Bivalvia | ... | Unionidae | Ambleminae | Amblemini | Amblema

species Amblema plicata (Say, 1817): synonymy
     14 specimens + 9 Genbank vouchers

Unio plicata Say, 1817
‘LeSueur’ Say, 1817. Nich. Encyc. 2: [12].
‘LeSueur’ Say, 1819. Nich. Encyc. 4: [17].
Say, 1858. [in] Binney, Compl. Writings T. Say: 50.
Type(s): NEOTYPE SMF_4305, Ohio, U.S.A.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Unio (s.s.) plicatusCall (1900)
Crenodonta plicataOrtmann (1912)
de Gregorio (1914)
Amblema plicataOrtmann & Walker (1922), Modell (1942), Heard & Guckert (1970), Clarke (1973), Burch (1975), ... Zieritz et al. (2024), Matos et al. (2024), Matos et al. (2024), Dai et al. (2025), Freeman et al. (2025)
Amblema (s.s.) plicataFrierson (1927), Haas (1930)
Crenodonta peruviana peruvianaMurray & Leonard (1962)
Amblema plicata plicataHaas (1969), Turgeon et al. (1988), Williams et al. (1993), Watters et al. (2009)
Amblema plicatusMackie et al. (1980)
Amblema p. plicataHoke (2005)

Unio peruviana Lamarck, 1819
Bruguière, 1797. Encycl. Méth. 2: pl. 248, fig. 7 [as Unio sp.].
Lamarck, 1819. Hist. Natur. Anim. sans Vert. 6: 71, sp. 4.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema peruvianaUtterback (1915), Ortmann & Walker (1922), F.C. Baker (1928)
Amblema costataOrtmann (1925)
Amblema (s.s.) plicataFrierson (1927)
Crenodonta peruviana peruvianaMurray & Leonard (1962)
Amblema plicata plicataHaas (1969), Watters et al. (2009)
Amblema plicataBurch (1975), Mathiak (1979), R.I. Johnson (1980), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)

Unio rariplicata Lamarck, 1819
Lamarck, 1819. Hist. Natur. Anim. sans Vert. 6: 71, sp. 5.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE MNHN_MPL_0037, Habite la rivière de l’Ohio. Michaud.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema rariplicataUtterback (1915), F.C. Baker (1928)
Amblema plicataOrtmann & Walker (1922), R.I. Johnson (1969), Burch (1975), R.I. Johnson (1980), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema (s.s.) plicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata plicataHaas (1969), Watters et al. (2009)

Amblema costata Rafinesque, 1820
Rafinesque, 1820. Ann. Gén. Sci. Phys. 5 (13): 315, pl. 82, figs. 13-14 [also as ‘Unio costata’].
Rafinesque, 1864. [in] Binney & Tryon, reprint: 58.
Type(s): LECTOTYPE ANSP_20246, small creeks, Kentucky.

Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema (plicata) costataUtterback (1915)
Quadrula costataVanatta (1915)
Amblema plicata costataOrtmann (1918), Haas (1969)
Amblema costataOrtmann & Walker (1922), Ortmann (1924), Ortmann (1925), F.C. Baker (1928), Thiele (1934), MacNeil (1935), ITIS (2012)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-costataFrierson (1927)
Crenodonta peruviana costataMurray & Leonard (1962)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataHeard & Guckert (1970), Clarke (1973), Burch (1975), R.I. Johnson (1980), Oesch (1984), ... Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Graf & Cummings (2007), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013), Graf & Cummings (2021)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio undulatus Barnes, 1823
Barnes, 1823. Amer. J. Sci. 6 (1-2): 120, pl. 2, fig. 2a-b.
(homonym of Unio undulata Say, 1817)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Unio (s.s.) undulatusCall (1900)
Quadrula undulataOrtmann (1909), Ortmann (1909), Ortmann (1909), Ortmann (1910)
Crenodonta undulataOrtmann (1912)
Unio undulatusde Gregorio (1914)
Amblema (plicata) costataUtterback (1915)
Quadrula costataVanatta (1915)
Megalonaias giganteaOrtmann & Walker (1922), F.C. Baker (1928), Burch (1975)
Amblema costataOrtmann & Walker (1922)
Amblema (Megalonaias) giganteaFrierson (1927)
Crenodonta peruviana costataMurray & Leonard (1962)
Amblema plicataR.I. Johnson (1980), Oesch (1984), Vidrine (1993), Strayer & Jirka (1997), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Megalonaias nervosaHowells et al. (1996), Williams et al. (2008), Watters et al. (2009)

Unio costatus Conrad, 1836
‘Rafinesque’ of Authors.
Conrad, 1836. Monogr. Fam. Unionidae 1(2): pl. 17, fig. 7.
Reeve, 1864. Conch. Icon. 16: pl. 4, sp. 16.
(reference to Amblema costata Rafinesque, 1820)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema plicataHe & Zhuang (2013)

Unio perplicatus Conrad, 1841
Conrad, 1841. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1: 19.
Conrad, 1850. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1: 276, pl. 38, fig. 2.
Conrad, 1853. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 6: 261 [as ‘Plectomerus perplicatus’].
Type(s): HOLOTYPE ANSP_129919, Jackson, Miss.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Crenodonta perplicataOrtmann (1912), Ortmann (1914)
Amblema perplicataUtterback (1915), Davis & Fuller (1981), Lydeard et al. (1996), Krebs et al. (2003)
Amblema perplicatusOrtmann (1923)
Amblema costataOrtmann (1924)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataBurch (1975), R.I. Johnson (1980), Vidrine (1993), Howells et al. (1996), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013), Patterson et al. (2021)
Amblema plicata perplicataTurgeon et al. (1988), Williams et al. (1993), Watters et al. (2009)
Amblema elliottiiMulvey et al. (1997)

Unio atrocostatus Lea, 1845
Lea, 1845. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 4: 163.
Lea, 1848. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 10 [O. 4]: 70 [44], pl. 2, fig. 5 [as ‘atro-costatus’].

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
de Gregorio (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataWilliams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Megalonaias nervosaWatters et al. (2009)

Unio hippopoeus Lea, 1845
Lea, 1845. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 4: 163 [as ‘hippopœus’].
Lea, 1848. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 10 [O. 4]: 67 [41], pl. 1, fig. 1 [as ‘hippopœus’].
Type(s): HOLOTYPE USNM_84096, L. Erie.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicata var. hippopæa [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula hippopæa [sic]Ortmann (1909)
Quadrula undulata hippopæa [sic]Ortmann (1909)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-hippopaea [sic]Frierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataClarke (1973), Burch (1975), Strayer & Jirka (1997), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio latecostatus Lea, 1845
Lea, 1845. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 4: 163.
Lea, 1848. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 10 [O. 4]: 68 [42], pl. 1, fig. 2.
Type(s): POSSIBLE SYNTYPE ANSP_127444, Ala. River, Selma, Alabama.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulata var. latecostataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
de Gregorio (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-costataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicataHowells et al. (1996), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)

Unio hippopaeus Lea, 1852
‘Lea’ of Authors.
Lea, 1852. Synopsis Fam. Naiades: 21 [as ‘hippopæus’].
Conrad, 1853. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 6: 261 [as ‘hippopæus’].
Adams & Adams, 1857. Gen. Rec. Moll. 2(31-32): 497 [as ‘hippopæus’].
Reeve, 1864. Conch. Icon. 16: pl. 11, sp. 40 [as ‘hippopæus’].
Lea, 1870. Synopsis Fam. Naiades: 31 [as ‘hippopæus’].
B.H. Wright, 1888. Check List N. Amer. Unionidae etc.: [3], [as ‘hippopæus’].
Simpson, 1900. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 22: 767 [as ‘hippopæa’].
Ortmann, 1909. Nautilus 22(10): 101 [as ‘Q. hippopæa’].
Ortmann, 1909. Ann. Carnegie Mus. 5: 203 [as ‘Quadrula undulata hippopæa’].
Simpson, 1914. Descr. Cat. Naiades: 816 [as ‘hippopæa’].
Frierson, 1927. Check List N. Amer. Naiades: 61.
Haas, 1969. Das Tierreich 88: 287.
Clarke, 1973. Malacologia 13(1-2): 35.
Burch, 1975. Freshw. Unio. North Amer.: 165.
Strayer & Jirka, 1997. Pearly Mussels NY (26): 98.
He & Zhuang, 2013. Freshwater Bivalves China: 27.
(error for Unio hippopoeus Lea, 1845)

Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio pearlensis Conrad, 1855
Conrad, 1855. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 7: 256.
Type(s): LECTOTYPE ANSP_129918, Pearl River, Miss.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio plicatus Küster, 1856
‘Say’ of Authors.
Küster, 1856. Conchyl. Cab. 9(2): 137, pl. 40, fig. 3.
Chenu, 1859. Manuel Conchyl. 2: 143, pl. 706.
(reference to Unio plicata Say, 1817)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Strophitus undulatusVidrine (1993)
Amblema plicataHe & Zhuang (2013)

Unio laticostatus Adams & Adams, 1857
‘Lea’ of Authors.
Adams & Adams, 1857. Gen. Rec. Moll. 2(31-32): 497.
Lea, 1870. Synopsis Fam. Naiades: 31.
Singley, 1893. Geol. Surv. Texas (1892): 317.
(error for Unio latecostatus Lea, 1845)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulata var. latecostataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)

Unio perlensis Reeve, 1864
‘Conrad’ of Authors.
Reeve, 1864. Conch. Icon. 16: pl. 11, sp. 42.
Paetel, 1890. Cat. Conch.-Samml. 3: 163.
(error for Unio pearlensis Conrad, 1855)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998)

Unio brazosensis Lea, 1868
Lea, 1868. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 20: 144.
Lea, 1868. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. 6 [O. 12]: 309 [69], pl. 48, fig. 122.
Type(s): FIGURED SYNTYPE USNM_84110, Brazos River, Tex.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio lincecumii Lea, 1868
Lea, 1868. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 20: 144.
Lea, 1868. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. 6 [O. 12]: 312 [72], pl. 49, fig. 125.
Type(s): FIGURED SYNTYPE USNM_84112, Dallas Co., Texas.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
de Gregorio (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio pauciplicatus Lea, 1872
Lea, 1872. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 24: 156.
Lea, 1874. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. 8 [O. 13]: 29 [33], pl. 9, fig. 26.
Type(s): FIGURED SYNTYPE USNM_84111, Austin, Texas.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio quintardii Cragin, 1887
Cragin, 1887. Bull. Washburn Coll. 2: 6.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE ANSP_63304, Sac & Fox Reservation, Oklahoma.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicata var. quintardiiSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema perplicata quintardiUtterback (1915)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-quintardiFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataR.I. Johnson (1980), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio pilsbryi Marsh, 1891
Marsh, 1891. Nautilus 5(1): 1.
Pilsbry, 1892. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 44: 131, pl. 8, figs. 7-8.
Pilsbry, 1893. Nautilus 7(1): pl. 1, figs. 7-8.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE ANSP_41589, Little Red River, Ark.

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulata var. pilsbryiSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema perplicata quintardiUtterback (1915)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-pilsbryiFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataR.I. Johnson (1980), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Cokeria southalli Marshall, 1916
Marshall, 1916. Nautilus 29: 133.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE USNM_215130, James R., Huron, South Dakota.

Amblema (s.s.) plicata-southalliFrierson (1927)
Amblema costataThiele (1934)
Amblema plicata costataHaas (1969)
Cokeria southalliHaas (1969)
Amblema plicataR.I. Johnson (1980), Parmalee & Bogan (1998), Williams et al. (2008), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio multiplicata of Authors, unknown year
Desh. of Authors.
(misidentified reference to Unio multiplicatus Lea, 1831)

Unio undulatus of Authors, unknown year
Desh. of Authors.
(reference to Unio undulatus Barnes, 1823)

Unio crassus Barnes, 1823
‘Say’ Barnes, 1823. Amer. J. Sci. 6 (1-2): 118, figs. 1a-b.
(misidentified reference to Unio crassus Say, 1817)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula (Fusconia [sic]) subrotundaFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)
Amblema plicataHe & Zhuang (2013)

Unio gigantea Lea, 1838
‘Barnes’ Lea, 1838. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 6 [O. 2]: 31, 35.
(misidentified reference to Unio crassus var. giganteus Barnes, 1823)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998), He & Zhuang (2013)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Unio undulatus Hanley, 1843
‘Barnes’ Hanley, 1843. Illustr. Descr. Cat. Rec. Bivalve Shells: 175, pl. 20, fig. 26.
(reference to Unio undulatus Barnes, 1823)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema costataOrtmann (1924), F.C. Baker (1928)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998), He & Zhuang (2013)

Margaron (Unio) laticostasus Lea, 1852
Lea, 1852. Synopsis Fam. Naiades: 21.
(error for Unio latecostatus Lea, 1845)

Unio heros Küster, 1855
‘Say’ Küster, 1855. Conchyl. Cab. 9(2): 136, pl. 40, figs. 1-2.
(misidentified reference to Unio heros Say, 1829)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema (s.s.) plicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema plicata plicataHaas (1969), Watters et al. (2009)
Amblema plicataParmalee & Bogan (1998)

Unio perplicatus Reeve, 1864
‘Conrad, Anthony, MS.’ Reeve, 1864. Conch. Icon. 16: pl. 9, sp. 35; errata [changed to ‘U. atrocostatus’].
(reference to Unio perplicatus Conrad, 1841; error for Unio atrocostatus Lea, 1845)

Unio (s.s.) multiplicatusCall (1900)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900)

Unio guintardii B.H. Wright, 1888
‘Cragin’ B.H. Wright, 1888. Check List N. Amer. Unionidae etc.: [3].
(error for Unio quintardii Cragin, 1887)

Unio lincecurei Paetel, 1890
‘Lea’ Paetel, 1890. Cat. Conch.-Samml. 3: 157.
(error for Unio lincecumii Lea, 1868)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Amblema plicata plicataWatters et al. (2009)

Taxonomic History (since 1900)

Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Unio (s.s.) plicatusCall (1900)
Simpson (1900), de Gregorio (1914), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Unio (s.s.) undulatusCall (1900)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) plicata var. hippopæa [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulata var. latecostataSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Unio (s.s.) multiplicatusCall (1900)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) perplicata var. quintardiiSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula (sec. Crenodonta) undulata var. pilsbryiSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Quadrula undulataOrtmann (1909), Ortmann (1909), Ortmann (1909), Ortmann (1910)
Quadrula hippopæa [sic]Ortmann (1909)
Quadrula undulata hippopæa [sic]Ortmann (1909)
Crenodonta plicataOrtmann (1912)
Crenodonta undulataOrtmann (1912)
Crenodonta perplicataOrtmann (1912), Ortmann (1914)
Unio undulatusde Gregorio (1914)
Amblema peruvianaUtterback (1915), Ortmann & Walker (1922), F.C. Baker (1928)
Amblema rariplicataUtterback (1915), F.C. Baker (1928)
Amblema (plicata) costataUtterback (1915)
Quadrula costataVanatta (1915)
Amblema perplicataUtterback (1915), Davis & Fuller (1981), Lydeard et al. (1996), Krebs et al. (2003)
Amblema perplicata quintardiUtterback (1915)
Amblema plicata costataOrtmann (1918), Haas (1969)
Amblema plicataOrtmann & Walker (1922), Modell (1942), R.I. Johnson (1969), Heard & Guckert (1970), Clarke (1973), ... Zieritz et al. (2024), Matos et al. (2024), Matos et al. (2024), Dai et al. (2025), Freeman et al. (2025)
Amblema costataOrtmann & Walker (1922), Ortmann (1924), Ortmann (1925), F.C. Baker (1928), Thiele (1934), MacNeil (1935), ITIS (2012)
Megalonaias giganteaOrtmann & Walker (1922), F.C. Baker (1928), Burch (1975)
Amblema perplicatusOrtmann (1923)
Amblema (s.s.) plicataFrierson (1927), Haas (1930)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-costataFrierson (1927)
Quadrula (Fusconia [sic]) subrotundaFrierson (1927)
Amblema (Megalonaias) giganteaFrierson (1927)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-perplicataFrierson (1927)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-hippopaea [sic]Frierson (1927)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-quintardiFrierson (1927)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-pilsbryiFrierson (1927)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata-southalliFrierson (1927)
Crenodonta peruviana peruvianaMurray & Leonard (1962)
Crenodonta peruviana costataMurray & Leonard (1962)
Amblema plicata plicataHaas (1969), Turgeon et al. (1988), Williams et al. (1993), Watters et al. (2009)
Amblema (s.s.) plicata costataHaas (1969)
Cokeria southalliHaas (1969)
Amblema plicatusMackie et al. (1980)
Amblema plicata perplicataTurgeon et al. (1988), Williams et al. (1993), Watters et al. (2009)
Strophitus undulatusVidrine (1993)
Megalonaias nervosaHowells et al. (1996), Williams et al. (2008), Watters et al. (2009)
Amblema elliottiiMulvey et al. (1997)
Amblema p. plicataHoke (2005)

 
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